Marlene Jeanette Buhler
Obituary
Marlene Jeanette Buhler, née Moore, passed away on October 4, 2026, at Boundary Trails Health Center, following complications from a stroke she suffered on August 21, 2026. Born on September 24, 1943, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Marlene lived a life that was full of motion, laughter, kindness, and the kind of practical wisdom that made everyone around her feel a little more put together.
Marlene was the sort of person who could make a room feel warmer just by walking into it. She was optimistic, loving, and thoughtful, carrying those qualities with the easy confidence of someone who knew that life was serious enough without making it gloomy. She had a sharp sense of humor, a steady presence, and a gift for saying exactly the right thing at exactly the right time, which is a rare talent and, frankly, one that should have been listed on her resume. She was a Christian woman whose faith shone in the way she treated people, with patience and generosity.
Her early years were shaped by family, community, and the kind of prairie upbringing that teaches a person how to work hard, laugh often, and survive winter. She was educated in the area, and built a life grounded in responsibility and care of others. For nearly 59 years, she lived life alongside her husband, David Buhler. Marlene and Dave welcomed son Michael early in their marriage, completing their little family. Their partnership set an example of enduring love, patience, and the sort of married life that probably involved a fair amount of shared glances and silent communication that only long-time spouses understand. Marlene worked for years at Clow’s General Store, and then the local clothing retailer, Nu-Fashion, where she surely helped many people look and feel better than when they walked in. She later moved on to Rexall Pharmacy, which became Valley Pharmacy, where she remained until retirement. Her working life reflected the same dependable spirit that defined her personally, because she was the kind of employee every business hopes for and every co-worker remembers fondly.
Marlene had a lively and enduring love for sport and recreation. In her youth, she truly enjoyed and excelled at figure skating, later sharing that skill by teaching children in the Morris area to skate. She became an avid curler and later enjoyed stick curling, proving that she had the balance, determination, and competitive spirit to take on both ice and life with equal confidence. She loved camping, canoeing, and fishing, while travelling to the Kenora area and Luther Village Church Camp for many years. These trips were not just vacations, but part of the rhythm of a life well lived, filled with fresh air, family, and the kind of memories that stick around longer than the mosquitoes. Golf was another of Marlene’s pleasures, especially when she could share it with her husband and son, or as part of the local ladies leagues over the years. She and Dave also loved to putter in the yard, with their stone patio a favourite gathering place. That patio likely saw a great deal of conversation, laughter, and the occasional perfectly timed remark that left everyone smiling. There is something deeply fitting about a person like Marlene creating a space where others naturally wanted to gather, because she had a way of making ordinary places feel like home.
Marlene’s greatest passion was her role as Nana to her grandchildren, Emily, Austin, and Sarah. As Nana and Papa, Marlene and Dave spent many years spoiling them and driving great distances to spend every minute that they could together playing games and crafting, saying “sure” to whatever schemes the kids came up with. As they grew, she instilled her love of sports, especially baseball and hockey. She was fortunate enough to celebrate their high school graduations with them, and watch with pride as they grew into talented young adults. . She lovingly welcomed Emily’s husband Ryan into the family with arms wide open and was so excited to attend their wedding. Her eyes let everyone know that meeting her great grandson Lincoln in person before she passed brought her great joy.
Marlene was deeply involved in her community. She volunteered wherever she could and was an active member of the Morris United Church for many years right up to her stroke. Her life of service was steady, faithful, and deeply appreciated. Her presence in the community was felt in many ways, and her absence will be felt just as deeply.
She is lovingly survived by her son, Michael and his wife Sherri, and by her grandchildren Emily Moore and Ryan, Austin, and Sarah Buhler, as well as her great-grandson Lincoln Moore, the new apple of Nan’s eye. She is also survived by her brother, Douglas Moore and wife Val, from Steinbach, her sister Anne Hruda and sister-in-law, Elaine Moore, both of Winnipeg. She is further survived by her sister-in-law Tena Giesbrecht and Alan of Altona, her brother-in-law George Buhler and Deb of Altona, and her sister-in-law Louise Buhler of Altona, along with numerous nieces and nephews on both sides of the family. She was predeceased by her husband David Buhler, Mother Roseline Moore, her Father Stratford Moore and wife Elsie, her brothers Donald and William (Bill) Moore, brother-in-law Dennis Hruda, and her niece Angela Hruda -Stephen. On her husband’s side, she was predeceased by her mother and father-in-law, Henry and Annie, as well as her brothers-in-law Jake and Henry. These losses were part of the long and difficult road of saying goodbye, but they do not diminish the fullness of the life she lived or the love she gave.
Marlene will be remembered for her warmth, her wit, her steady faith, and her ability to make life feel both manageable and meaningful. She was a woman who loved deeply, worked faithfully, and laughed often, leaving behind a legacy of kindness that will continue to ripple through her family and community. If heaven has a stone patio, a skating rink, and a decent curling sheet, one suspects Marlene has already found the best seat in the house.
Cremation has taken place. A Celebration of Life will be held in the coming months.
